Chapter 89
“......”
My eyes are irresistibly drawn to the tapestry depicting the Kingdom of Feldi and its surroundings.
Maps in the Liuus Alliance, whose culture is derived from Shulendal’s, depicts Feldi as “Kingdom in the East.”
But this map, naturally, has Feldi in the center. To the west is Filsand, and Senpu Village is in the corner.
The south is a great sea decorated with countless pictures of storms and sea serpents, the north is obstructed by enormous mountains, and the east is is a large empty expanse colored with gray.
If one thinks of Filsand as the center, north is the Plains of Twilight occupied by the undead, and south is Ran Balt. The only way to expand is to either cross the mountains in the west and attack Senpu Village, or to turn towards Feldi itself. That is the geographical position of this city.
Then again, the barren land separating Filsand and Ran Balt is where the Shulz currently live, and there is even that place called Garden of the G.o.ds, so it is not completely unviable as a direction for expansion.
While staring at this map, the thought that had come to my mind earlier gradually forms into a proper strategy.
“What is it? You have something else that you want me to do, right?”
“Umu……”
So asks the Duke of Filsand in a slightly testy voice.
In the first place, he is not someone used to obediently listening to someone else’s words.
I know a conclusion needs to be reached soon, but I do not yet have enough information to be sure.
I desperately search around my memories for all the information that I’ve seen and heard about that.
Right, it was quite a while ago that Sedam had given me a pretty detailed explanation, but……
“...... I’ve changed my mind.”
“What?”
“The first condition…… after you succeed at uniting your children, then I’ll tell you the second condition.”
Umu.
‘Slow and elaborate is better than rough and hasty’ is a modern j.a.panese idiom, right? So I decided to put a pause on the negotiations for a while.
“...... Very well. I will restrain Agbeil, and also immediately start the preparations for exchanging the Shulz girl for Balzard.”
“Ahh, you do that.”
I nod gravely at the Duke who is even now cursing me in his mind with «If this guy wasn’t a Great Wizard, I would have already stuck him on a spike.»
With this, Elizabel’s safety is guaranteed, and I have also earned myself some time.
“Nn, speaking of which, what are you going to do about Elizabel?”
“What do you mean by what?”
“The wedding. I know it was just a cover, but it would be more convenient to marry her anyways. After all, you’ve already had her, right?”
“h.e.l.l no!”
“?”
Oops, I accidentally retorted in my normal character.
“I, I am not so starved that I would lay my hands on a mere teenager. I have not touched your daughter with even a finger.”
“She’s already of age to give birth, so I don’t really see what the problem is, but…… well, I think I understand what your preferences are now.”
Man, he has such a smirk on his face.
For now, I leave the matter of my engagement with Elizabel as vague and unsettled while retreating to the room that I had been allotted.
♥♦♣♠
“Welcome back, my lord……”
Returning to my guest room, which is even more lavish than the one I had in Senpu Village, I find all my companions gathered inside.
Incidentally, Fablu is in a separate room with Ted and the three new soldiers. Dianu is of course under strict guard, and thus is in a cell.
All the rest have apparently been waiting for me, in spite of the very late hour. I did them a bad turn.
More like, why does Leiha look so tired?
“What is it, Leiha?” (Gio)
“No, it is nothing much.” (Leiha)
“a.s.sa.s.sins. While you were talking with the Duke, the first wife sent 1, and the second son sent 2.” (Irudo)
“And Leiha repelled all of them by herself.” (Claura)
“...... I’m sorry, it seems I really have incurred their enmity.” (Elizabel)
Irudo and Claura explain the situation, and Elizabel looks apologetic.
On my way back, I did not feel any traces of a.s.sa.s.sins and observers, which means the Duke has already begun moving.
“I see. That must have been a burden. You have done well.”
“Th-, thank you very much. It was all for the sake of my Oluri, Margils-sama.”
“Un un.”
Leiha is kneeling before me on one knee with her head reverently bowed, causing me to really want to pat her beautiful light purple hair, but…… having that done by an ossan would only feel gross, so I opted to pat her shoulder instead.
♥♦♣♠
“Anyways, for now I’ve settled the talks with the Duke up to here. Elizabel’s and my safety are both guaranteed for the while.”
I’ve succinctly related the content of my conversation with the Duke to my companions.
Everyone is honestly glad about having gained consent for the trade route.
However.
“...... Did my father not say anything about me?”
Yes, I did not tell them what the Duke and I had discussed in regards to her.
I don’t really have the courage to tell her that the Duke had been standing at the side and watching her being targeted by her brother as if it was a game.
No, to be specific, I do have the courage, but in order to resolve — or at least alleviate — a family problem, it is important for the members themselves to work it out with each other.
“What the Duke and I had agreed on is to suppress the second son Agbeil’s recklessness, and to save his eldest son Balzard. With that, your safety has been guaranteed.”
“I, see. As for the rest, I need to ask my father myself, right?”
Elizabel nods with a look expressing that she knows I’m holding something back.
“Exactly. So far, I have not yet cancelled our state of being engaged. If you really need to, you can use me as an excuse. Go speak with the Duke yourself and ask for his true intentions.”
“Alright, I’ll do that. When I think about it, I realize that I’ve never before had a serious talk with my father……”
So murmurs Elizabel with a somewhat dry smile.
I don’t have any spell that can help with restoring the warped relationship between a father and his daughter. And neither do such words suit me, as I am not that kind of hero.
But I’ve made this opportunity for father and daughter to talk. And I will also provide support where the situation needs it.
I do feel sympathy towards Elizabel, but part of my motivation is also because I arbitrarily feel guilty in regards to what “my bad self” had done.
“So what about the matter of the alliance?”
“What condition do you plan on imposing on the Duke anyways?”
“Umu. Before that……”
Indeed, I had wanted to discuss this with my allies first.
This idea that I had come up with within a few minutes needs to be examined for its feasibility under the light of everyone’s knowledge.
I look around at all of the faces surrounding me, then……
“Ugh, if only Sedam is around at a time like this……”
“Oh, how rude!” (Claura)
♥♦♣♠
The next few days after that, we continued discussing and debating, and also went around inspecting the streets of Filsand, talking with merchants from other countries and adventurers based in this city.
I also went out on a few day trips using [Fly] and [Move Outer Plane] to investigate.
All of it was to gather the proof to show to the Duke for ‘the second condition.’
During that time, Irudo and Fablu discussed with Filsand finance officials on the plans for the construction of the trade route, setting various things moving. The Duke also sent out a messenger to the Shulz in regards to the prisoner exchange.
“...... If it’s like this, it just might work, no?” (Claura)
“The premise is if we [……]. At the very least, the Duke’s army will be busy for the next five years.” (Gio)
Right when we had finalized ‘the second condition’ and I was about to thrust it at the Duke.
“My lord. A large mob of Shulz are approaching Filsand from the south.” (Leiha)
…… Indeed, just as I was moving, the world is also constantly moving.